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Speeches and Interviews



2010

Speech to Stanford Sloan Fellows
Speech delivered by Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Corporation to Stanford Sloan Fellows on 1 July, 2010
"This is not an easy task. The fact is that job growth in India trails the rise in working-age population. It is important that the gains are spread lot more pervasively across this group, so that the divide between them, if any, is minimized. Education is a crucial enabler that can make this transformation possible. Education spurs the greatest changes. It leads to the creation of a more just and equitable society. It changes the expectation a person has from herself. It is the only way we can upgrade the caliber of the talent pool in the country and build an inclusive society."

2009

"Azim Premji Foundation experience"
Speech delivered by Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Corporation at the Young President's Organisation on 15 September, 2009
"We believe it will be necessary to set up Education Resource Centers, at least one in each of our 600+ districts, either on our own or through public/private partners who share our vision. The University/ies and Education Resource Centers will in time, create a bank of dedicated professionals who understands the kind of education that needs to be imparted, and who can help create large cadres of trained and committed people in the field."

"Public-Private Partnership for the cause of Equitable Quality Education"
Speech delivered by Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Corporation at the School Nurturing Programme Inauguration on 25 February, 2009
"In a country such as ours achieving quality education is an extremely challenging task and it becomes imperative for the three critical stakeholders – the government, civil society organizations and the corporate sector, to work together in unison to face this challenge." 

2008

Teacher's Day Address
Speech delivered by Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Corporation, 5 September, 2008
"Our combined aim should be to make India the preferred destination for Research and Development work. For this to happen, students need to unshackle themselves from their existing mindsets and nourish creative thinking." More

"India growth story needs good quality education"
Speech delivered by Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Corporation, Published in Economic Times on 19 February, 2008
"In February last year, the finance minister took a bold stance by increasing the 2007-08 school education budgets by 35% to Rs 23,142 crore. This needs to be followed up this year with a similar effort."


2007

The Third National Learning Conference
Speech delivered by Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Corporation, 24 May, 2007
"The first point I want to make is that today we live in two different worlds. On the one hand, our constitution makes a commitment to a just, humane and equitable society. On the other hand, we see a world of disparities and a less than satisfactory implementation of legislations, including most importantly, several aspects of the National Education Policy which have still not been implemented. We have the commitment to abolish child labour. We have a commitment to provide education for all, yet millions of our children, including Dalits, tribals and those from economically backward homes are deprived of the most basic school education." 

"Potential of ICT in Education"
Speech delivered by Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Corporation at the Conference for E-9 Countries on ICT, 4 October, 2007
"To me ICT is not about the computers or the educational CDs or the internet or the specific device or medium we use. It is really about a different process that we deploy for the purpose of enhancing the quality of education. It is about providing alternative learning experiences to the children who currently do not have options other than the text book as a learning tool." 

"Managing the Risks of Globalization"
Speech delivered by Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Corporation at the ET Annual Awards - CEO Round Table, 3 October, 2007
"I shall just talk from my experience, about three points, which I consider crucial in the context of managing globalization and its risks.
First, the fierce competition of globalization delivers better and cheaper services and goods to the common man. Once the common man gets a taste of this improvement in life it is impossible to deny it to him. So politicians and business people must accept and drive globalization completely – otherwise we will sow seeds of social unrest."

"The weight of wings"
Speech delivered by Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Corporation at the Outlook - State of the Nation, 26 March, 2007
"During childhood and schooling, children become victims of constraints, regulation, discipline and regimen. Times during which children don’t study but just talk, interact with each other, play, draw, dismantle toys or just have fun is considered a waste of study time. We seem to have designed a schooling system which in trying to encourage learning seems to do the opposite. Children start feeling guilty about wanting to do anything other than “studying”. Learning restricts itself to the textbooks and subjects prescribed as part of our curriculum. Marks in examinations are the only means for a child to demonstrate her learning capabilities."


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